Thursday, November 21, 2013

Last night I found my way to Two Hands Paperie in Boulder. It is a paper store that is awesome and inspiring. It makes me want to rise up and make wonderful, artistic creations. We were making pajakis that will be decorations at the Firefly Holiday Market in Boulder. It will benefit the Open Arts.

Here is the one I was part of creating:

(This was my group.)

There were many in the store from which we could draw inspiration:

It was also fun to watch the other groups create their pajakis. Even though we had the same instructions and materials, we made such different pajakis:

You can see why I love the store so much:

I hope you find this inspirational, too.
Happy Early Holidays!
------Minestrone Soup with Pasta, Kale and Beans

In a large, heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium low, cook bacon, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, about 6 minutes. Remove from pan and place in between two paper towels set atop a dinner plate. Blot lightly and set aside. Drain most of the excess fat from the Dutch oven. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil,onion, carrots, celery, and garlic. Sauté over medium heat, until the vegetables begin to soften, about 8-10 minutes. Add the tomatoes,zucchini, green beans and 6 cups chicken stock . Bring to a boil, then lower the heat. Add in the bay leaves, pepper, parsley, basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, thyme and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.
Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to directions. Drain and set aside.
Once soup has simmered and the vegetables are soft, discard the bay leaf. Add the beans, cooked pasta, and reserved bacon. Add the kale in batches as it fits in the pot, stirring so that it cooks down. Once kale has lightly wilted. The soup should be fairly thick, but add additional chicken stock as needed. Serve hot drizzled with olive oil and topped with Parmesan cheese.

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Welcome to My Blog

Welcome to "A Need to Create." This blog started out as a way to document and share the various kinds of creations I enjoy making.

However, it has become more like a diary of our family events. You'll find lots of posts about my kids, Ellie (17) who is a senior in high school and Ethan (21) who is currently being a sailor on a tall ship off of the West Coast. They are on the verge of adulthood and I am thankful to be part of their journeys.

I also like to cook and post recipes. I post a lot of our recipes. We were Paleo for a while, and now my husband is vegan. I craft, quilt, sew, paint, knit, etc. when I have time.

I hope you find something to amuse you, inspire you, or at least make you smile. Thanks for stopping by.

About Me

I have a nearly insatiable need to create things - from paper, paint, fabric or food. While it is fun to have end products, it is the act of creating that it important. It can put me in a nearly Zen-like state of happiness and contentment. My postings here will chronicle my processes.
I am a mom of two kids, Ethan (18 years old) and Ellie (14 years old). I met my husband on a blind date in high school and have been in love ever since. By day I am a HS English teacher. I also teach reading and am an English as a Second Language teacher. I also write and facilitate online professional development graduate level courses for teachers.